Best friends Pete and Hank decided to switch jobs. Just to see how the different each other’s jobs were. Now mind you there jobs are very different! Pete is a pastor and Hank is a tavern owner.

This is another Debbie Macomber must read!
She wrote it like she was telling a story to her grandchildren.
Very well written as always. Full of fun, laugh’s and love.
Release date is October 18, 2022
You can preorder now.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

A sweet and enjoyable Christmas story. Could definitely see this one being turned into a Hallmark Christmas movie.

A grandmother is telling her two grandchildren a story about a bartender and a pastor, who have been best friends for many years. The two individuals switch jobs for several days, each believing the other has a very cushy job with no stress and little work involved. They soon learn otherwise, and a few problems develop.

This is a heartwarming story about friendship, change of heart, forgiveness, new beginnings, new friendships, and a HEA. The children are surprised when they find out who the story is really about.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Ballantine. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a classic Christmas story. Two friends Peter and Hank get together about once a month for lunch. Peter is a minister at a local church, Hank is the owner of a local bar that caters to a local biker gang. Each thinks the other has the easier job. So the week of Christmas they decide to swap jobs. Peter failed to tell his sister, who is also his church secretary, of his plan. Oh and she hates Hank and thinks he is a bad influence on Peter. Well as I am sure you can imagine they discover that the grass is not greener on the other side of the fence. They both though bring a lot to their new "jobs" and change lives along the way. And who knew that the nativity animals could be so much trouble.
This is a fun and happy Christmas story that we have come to expect from Debbie Macomber.

I like Debbie Macomber’s books. This one goes back and forth between 1975 and present day. A grandma is telling her grandchildren, a boy and a girl, a story about two friends, a pastor and a bar owner, who decide to switch places to see who has the toughest job. Each of the men develop a new understanding of what the others job entails. There is also romance for each of the men. I recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Debbie Macomber and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of The Christmas Spirit. This is my personal review.
Peter and Hank have been friends for years. Peter is a pastor and Hank is a bar owner. Two friends with such different lives and they each think the other leads an easy life, so they decide to switch places for a few days.
This sets up for a book that was heart touching and story. The story is told is a unique way. Nana is babysitting her grandchildren and tells them a fairy tale that is so much more.
It is a Christmas story you will read, and it will leave you feeling wonderful.
Thank you Debbie Macomber for giving us a beautiful story to fill our hearts with joy.

The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber is a story within a story. Nana tells her grandchildren a story that isn't a fairy tale but a real life story. This novel takes place during the Great War and reflects the lives of Peter and Hank. It shows how people feel that others lives are easier than theirs. They find out that isn't always so.
Read this book to solve the mystery. Thank Netgalley and the publisher for the early edition of this book,
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I loved this story! I read this book in just a few hours. I couldn't put it down.
Two lifelong friends decide to trade places for a week to see how the other lives. One owns a bar and the other a pastor. They come too see challenges the other faces and helps to ease burdens. They both see a lot of growth and of course romance as Debbie's books always do. While this tale takes place at Christmas time it's not necessarily a Christmas story.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun easy read. Someone looking for a fun clean romance.

I am a big fan of Debbie Macomber's books, especially her Christmas stories! They are always short and easy reads that leave you feeling great - this one is just like that! I loved that it started out as a grandmother telling her grandkids a love story.

The characters were likable and it was fun to watch them switch places and deal with things out of their elements. The love that grew between the characters over the course of a week was great and had me smiling at the interactions between them.

This was a great Christmasy read that will be perfect for the holidays. It had a lot of lessons that a lot of people could use and teaches us to not judge a book by it's cover.

Easily a 5-star read for me and I will be recommending it as a holiday read this year!

Big thanks to Debbie Macomber, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this book!

It’s my yearly tradition to read the new Debbie Macomber Christmas book. I look forward to it every year. This one was a little different. A grandmother tells her grandchildren a retelling of a Christmas past. Two best friends, a bar keep and a pastor, swap jobs for five days. It was eye opening for both men. I enjoyed this story so much. It was a heartwarming holiday tale. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This is a wonderful Christmas story.
It's a feel-good & touching book.
Will make you laugh & cry.
Nana, was spending the evening with her grandkids, Lance & Lily.
She told them a special story
about two best friends at Christmas time.
Pete & Hank, each had very different jobs. They questioned who's life was harder.
So they decided to find out.
Great characters, storyline
& small town charm.
I loved it from the first to last page!!

Love a good holiday read and especially fun with a holiday theme.
This was neat because this time we had two male protagonists
switching places as opposed to the female perspective.
Perfect for fans of The Holiday.

Two lifelong friends decide to trade places the week before Christmas and end up finding love along the way in this delightful novel from the queen of holiday stories, #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax are best friends, but their lives couldn’t be more different. Peter is a local pastor who is dedicated to his community. He spends his time visiting the flock, attending meetings, and, with the holiday season approaching, preparing for the Christmas service and live nativity. As a bartender, Hank serves a much different customer base at his family-owned tavern, including a handful of lonely regulars and the local biker gang.

When Peter scoffs that Hank has it easy compared to him, the two decide to switch jobs until Christmas Eve. To their surprise, the responsibilities of both bartender and pastor are similar, but much more difficult than either of them expected. As Peter and Hank begin to see each other’s lives in a new light, and each discovers a new love to cherish, their lives are forever changed.

In The Christmas Spirit, Debbie Macomber celebrates the true meaning of the holidays and the inclusive community spirit that binds us all.

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
BY: DEBBIE MACOMBER

I can always count on Debbie Macomber for a heartfelt story having to do with family. This one was okay, but I had to suspend belief that a grandmother would really tell this story to her two grandchildren under ten years old who she was watching for her daughter. I usually love anything by Debbie Macomber, and her novels are most always five star reads.

I didn't really like some of the characters in this one at first, but by the end of the book I had changed my mind and they redeemed themselves. Grace Ann was one such character that was initially very holier-than-though and hard to like, but she did see the error of her ways, but right after her epiphany in which she admitted to being a hypocrite--there wasn't any further development of her character. I would have liked to have heard more dialogue from her instead of a description of what she did to help.

I was won over by the end of the book and felt like the characters all were likable, henceforth my solid four star rating. This is the first time I have rated less than five stars for Debbie Macomber. I was a little underwhelmed with the story and the characters weren't what I was typically expecting. It was a fast read, which took me only a few hours. I couldn't believe it was so short. I still will read her previous novels and anything that she writes in the future.

Publication Date: October 18, 2022

Thank you to Net Galley, Debbie Macomber and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Ballantine Books for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheChristmasSpirit #DebbieMacomber #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantineBallantineBooks #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book. Peter and Hank have been best friends for years. Hank owns a bar and Peter has become a priest. They decide to switch jobs and their lives are never the same. They both find love where they least expect it. This was a wonderful book that you will enjoy for a long time. Think I may reread it during the holidays with a book club.

Nothing can bring out the holidays than a Debbie Macomber romance - however - this one comes with a twist. Hank and Peter, best of friends, swap places right before the holiday. While this could possibly lead to mishap and mayhem, it also leads to unlikely love and everlasting friendships. It's a tale of two lives forever changed and the family and friends who made it all possible.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book Peter and Hank have been best friends for years. Hank owns a bar and Peter has become a priest. They decide to switch jobs and their lives are never the same. They both find love where they least expect it. This was a delightful book that you will enjoy for many years.

The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber . Just read my new favorite Debbie Macomber Christmas story. Heartwarming, humorous, filled with love, and memorable characters. Can see the movie version in my mind's eye with Kirk Russell as Snake minus the eye patch.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

A sweet holiday tale. Debbie Macomber’s latest novella, The Christmas Spirit, is a cozy confectionary story of two male friends - one a pastor and the other a tavern owner - who swap homes and jobs for a few days during the week prior to Christmas. As the daughter of a preacher myself, I appreciated Macomber highlighting the myriad of tasks that render such a job a 24x7 commitment. And though portions of the plot are entirely preposterous - even assuming a heavy dose of Christmas spirit(s) of every sort - I nonetheless found the story cheery and heartwarming. Recommended for those for whom a Macomber story is a holiday tradition and any others seeking a quick, light read to spark a festive mood. Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the complimentary e-ARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.

This was such a cute book! I absolutely love Debbie's Christmas novels and this one did not disappoint! Hank is a bar owner/tender and Pete is a pastor who decide to switch lives until Christmas Eve. Hilarity ensues. And, of course, there's romance! I didn't like that Hank called Grace Ann, Gracie since she said she didn't like it. That just rubbed me the wrong way. But everything else was great. The Christmas Eve service was especially funny. Overall, just a cute, fun book. Highly recommend.

This is a tale of a Christmas of long ago being told by a grandma to her grandkids. Back in the day, Hank (tavern owner) and Pete (pastor) decide to trade jobs during the week before Christmas. Each thinks the other has the easier job. Of course they find that their preconceptions are false and that both professions “minister” to people. Hijinks ensue so that when the Christmas Eve service arrives people from both lives, the tavern and the church, end up celebrating together.

The book is very Christian focused and has no swearing or sex. Along with the focus on the transformative spirit of Christmas on both communities, they each find love while in their new role. It is told both in the past and present- during the time of the action and in present as the grandma tells the story to the grandkids. Fans of Debbie Macomber will not be disappointed.

I received this ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.